What I Believe

MariaJLM · May 6, 2019

Since people thought it was appropriate to put words in my mouth in my last thread I'll lay out here exactly what I believe in order to prevent any misunderstandings. Maybe it will get people to stop drawing conclusions and attacking me because of said conclusions.

Economics: This is admittedly my most left-wing issue. I sit somewhere between social democracy and democratic socialism. My ideal society is actually a communal society, but I'm not naive to actually believe that's feasible in our fallen state. I do, however, of course strongly believe in universal healthcare, social programs for the impoverished, public funding of education, etc. If I had a single "pet issue" then this would be it.

Abortion: I am essentially pro-life and, ironically, not exclusively for religious reasons. My pro-life stance actually came as a result of abortion being used to eradicate certain disabilities. It's ableist and a form of eugenics. I, however, do recognize that a good chunk of abortions happen due to lack of support, emotionally and financially. Knowing that I consider it to occasionally be an unfortunate evil and one that cannot be truly eradicated until we lower the costs of living(and childcare) and expand support programs for expectant parents. For this reason I strongly believe that one cannot be for both cutting social programs and pro-life.

LGBT+ issues: On a religious level I do believe this stuff has no place in the church as scriptures clearly tell us that marriage is between a man and a woman. However, I'm pretty indifferent about what people do in their own bedrooms as long as its consensual. In short, it's not my business. That being said, I am okay with secular civil unions for same sex couples.

Euthanasia: This one admittedly is one of the most controversial ones. I recognize that the church is largely against it. However, having suffered myself and watched others suffer I can understand why some would desire it. I think it's more humane to allow somebody who is terminally ill and in great physical pain to go on their own terms. I do, however, disagree with euthanasia being used for more trivial things like alcoholism and depression as it has been in some European countries.

Immigration/nationalism: I'm all for immigration. I live in a country that was founded on it, thus I would be a hypocrite to oppose it. Just screen prospective immigrants to ensure they're not violent criminals or terrorists. If they're not then I take no issue with them coming into Canada. Multiculturalism is one of the things I believe makes this country great. In a similar vein I am fine with patriotism and actually think it's healthy for one to love their country. Nationalism, however, is toxic as it tends to teach that one's country is superior to all others.

Racism/anti-semitism: As with the above naturally I oppose any form of discrimination based on race, ethnic background, religion, or any other factor. We are all people created in the image of God so we should begin acting like it. I strongly believe that racists and anti-semites either need to repent or stop pretending to be Christians.

Contraception: This is another controversial one. To go with my pro-life stance I do believe another way to prevent abortions is to allow people to prevent pregnancy in the first place. There are legitimate reasons for a married couple to not have children. However, they should not be denied the opportunity for pleasure either because of it. Using contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy is much better than aborting.

Intervention/war: I am largely a non-interventionist. I believe that countries like America(and also my own) should simply mind their own business and stop policing the world. In a similar vein I am also strongly anti-zionist.

Lukaris · May 6, 2019

As time has gone on, I try to avoid stating my political opinions & focus on the spiritual. I believe the Lord’s commandments ( Matthew 19:16-19, Romans 13:8-10 etc.) are the spiritual basis for how we are to live in secular society. Surely we should discern where the secular conforms or conflicts with the Gospel.

I believe where secular law rebels against the Gospel we should oppose it spiritually to try to bring an individual to repentance and avoid theocracy. Care must be taken to how we view & treat individuals who live in sin & not recklessly judge ( Matthew 7:1-12, Amos 5:14-15 etc. ).

I am not criticizing your views (some I agree, some not & maybe I am ignorant on some things too). I also realize your trying to sort out how to live by faith so just keep at it.

MariaJLM · May 6, 2019

Lukaris said:
As time has gone on, I try to avoid stating my political opinions & focus on the spiritual. I believe the Lord’s commandments ( Matthew 19:16-19, Romans 13:8-10 etc.) are the spiritual basis for how we are to live in secular society. Surely we should discern where the secular conforms or conflicts with the Gospel.

I believe where secular law rebels against the Gospel we should oppose it spiritually to try to bring an individual to repentance and avoid theocracy. Care must be taken to how we view & treat individuals who live in sin & not recklessly judge ( Matthew 7:1-12, Amos 5:14-15 etc. ).

I am not criticizing your views (some I agree, some not & maybe I am ignorant on some things too). I also realize your trying to sort out how to live by faith so just keep at it.

The only reason I made this post is because people were accusing me of being pro-abortion and stuff and were attacking me for it.

Lukaris · May 6, 2019

MariaJLM said:
The only reason I made this post is because people were accusing me of being pro-abortion and stuff and were attacking me for it.

I was just focusing on a mindset approach in trying to sort out living by faith within an increasingly difficult secularism. I was not taking any conscious position in regards to your previous discussion. I was trying to offer something to ponder (and hopefully trying to sound coherent about it).

AMM · May 6, 2019

MariaJLM said:
Since people thought it was appropriate to put words in my mouth in my last thread I'll lay out here exactly what I believe in order to prevent any misunderstandings. Maybe it will get people to stop drawing conclusions and attacking me because of said conclusions.

Economics: This is admittedly my most left-wing issue. I sit somewhere between social democracy and democratic socialism. My ideal society is actually a communal society, but I'm not naive to actually believe that's feasible in our fallen state. I do, however, of course strongly believe in universal healthcare, social programs for the impoverished, public funding of education, etc. If I had a single "pet issue" then this would be it.

Abortion: I am essentially pro-life and, ironically, not exclusively for religious reasons. My pro-life stance actually came as a result of abortion being used to eradicate certain disabilities. It's ableist and a form of eugenics. I, however, do recognize that a good chunk of abortions happen due to lack of support, emotionally and financially. Knowing that I consider it to occasionally be an unfortunate evil and one that cannot be truly eradicated until we lower the costs of living(and childcare) and expand support programs for expectant parents. For this reason I strongly believe that one cannot be for both cutting social programs and pro-life.

LGBT+ issues: On a religious level I do believe this stuff has no place in the church as scriptures clearly tell us that marriage is between a man and a woman. However, I'm pretty indifferent about what people do in their own bedrooms as long as its consensual. In short, it's not my business. That being said, I am okay with secular civil unions for same sex couples.

Euthanasia: This one admittedly is one of the most controversial ones. I recognize that the church is largely against it. However, having suffered myself and watched others suffer I can understand why some would desire it. I think it's more humane to allow somebody who is terminally ill and in great physical pain to go on their own terms. I do, however, disagree with euthanasia being used for more trivial things like alcoholism and depression as it has been in some European countries.

Immigration/nationalism: I'm all for immigration. I live in a country that was founded on it, thus I would be a hypocrite to oppose it. Just screen prospective immigrants to ensure they're not violent criminals or terrorists. If they're not then I take no issue with them coming into Canada. Multiculturalism is one of the things I believe makes this country great. In a similar vein I am fine with patriotism and actually think it's healthy for one to love their country. Nationalism, however, is toxic as it tends to teach that one's country is superior to all others.

Racism/anti-semitism: As with the above naturally I oppose any form of discrimination based on race, ethnic background, religion, or any other factor. We are all people created in the image of God so we should begin acting like it. I strongly believe that racists and anti-semites either need to repent or stop pretending to be Christians.

Contraception: This is another controversial one. To go with my pro-life stance I do believe another way to prevent abortions is to allow people to prevent pregnancy in the first place. There are legitimate reasons for a married couple to not have children. However, they should not be denied the opportunity for pleasure either because of it. Using contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy is much better than aborting.

Intervention/war: I am largely a non-interventionist. I believe that countries like America(and also my own) should simply mind their own business and stop policing the world. In a similar vein I am also strongly anti-zionist.

FWIW, I hold largely the same views as you do and I'm Orthodox as well. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this. I know that's not exactly the point of your post, but I just wanted you to know anyway. I won't dive into my disagreements (unless you ask), but suffice it to say I believe almost the same things

Stabat Mater dolorosa · May 6, 2019

archer75 · May 6, 2019

I also am largely of your mind on these matters.

And I think it is brave to state all this in the open, especially if you have been called a modernist heretic.

MariaJLM · May 6, 2019

archer75 said:
I also am largely of your mind on these matters.

And I think it is brave to state all this in the open, especially if you have been called a modernist heretic.

I'm beyond caring. I'm sick of trying to be something I'm not. I'll probably just end up dead from depression anyway,.

archer75 · May 6, 2019

MariaJLM said:
I'm beyond caring. I'm sick of trying to be something I'm not. I'll probably just end up dead from depression anyway,.

I know the feeling, Maria.

ArmyMatt · May 6, 2019

while I appreciate your openness, just so you know, you don't owe us an explanation of your political beliefs.

and I will say again, I think that other thread just got fired up. I don't think anyone was putting words in your mouth. emotions and Internet forums are always a recipe for stuff getting lost in translation. and I say this as someone who has done it.

ZaidaBoBaida · May 7, 2019

I think I stepped out of the other thread just as it was turning into a dumpster fire. I actually agree with a lot of what you said - except euthanasia. I think it is up to God when and how I leave this world. I may need to learn something from the pain and suffering before I go. Plus it has proven to be such a slippery slope issue.

The main reason I'm against gay marriage - even in the secular sense - is because I've come to believe it is wholly incompatible with religious freedom. Examples include bakers and photographers being sued because of not wanting to participate in gay weddings. If two gay people want to hold a ceremony and pretend they're married - that is exactly no skin off my nose. As for the legal rights and benefits that being legally married automatically conveys - that just strikes me as fair. I just want to be left out of it. But, evil is never happy to be merely tolerated. It must force you to become complicit.

The Faceless · May 8, 2019

MariaJLM said:
Since people thought it was appropriate to put words in my mouth in my last thread I'll lay out here exactly what I believe in order to prevent any misunderstandings. Maybe it will get people to stop drawing conclusions and attacking me because of said conclusions.

Economics: This is admittedly my most left-wing issue. I sit somewhere between social democracy and democratic socialism. My ideal society is actually a communal society, but I'm not naive to actually believe that's feasible in our fallen state. I do, however, of course strongly believe in universal healthcare, social programs for the impoverished, public funding of education, etc. If I had a single "pet issue" then this would be it.

Abortion: I am essentially pro-life and, ironically, not exclusively for religious reasons. My pro-life stance actually came as a result of abortion being used to eradicate certain disabilities. It's ableist and a form of eugenics. I, however, do recognize that a good chunk of abortions happen due to lack of support, emotionally and financially. Knowing that I consider it to occasionally be an unfortunate evil and one that cannot be truly eradicated until we lower the costs of living(and childcare) and expand support programs for expectant parents. For this reason I strongly believe that one cannot be for both cutting social programs and pro-life.

LGBT+ issues: On a religious level I do believe this stuff has no place in the church as scriptures clearly tell us that marriage is between a man and a woman. However, I'm pretty indifferent about what people do in their own bedrooms as long as its consensual. In short, it's not my business. That being said, I am okay with secular civil unions for same sex couples.

Euthanasia: This one admittedly is one of the most controversial ones. I recognize that the church is largely against it. However, having suffered myself and watched others suffer I can understand why some would desire it. I think it's more humane to allow somebody who is terminally ill and in great physical pain to go on their own terms. I do, however, disagree with euthanasia being used for more trivial things like alcoholism and depression as it has been in some European countries.

Immigration/nationalism: I'm all for immigration. I live in a country that was founded on it, thus I would be a hypocrite to oppose it. Just screen prospective immigrants to ensure they're not violent criminals or terrorists. If they're not then I take no issue with them coming into Canada. Multiculturalism is one of the things I believe makes this country great. In a similar vein I am fine with patriotism and actually think it's healthy for one to love their country. Nationalism, however, is toxic as it tends to teach that one's country is superior to all others.

Racism/anti-semitism: As with the above naturally I oppose any form of discrimination based on race, ethnic background, religion, or any other factor. We are all people created in the image of God so we should begin acting like it. I strongly believe that racists and anti-semites either need to repent or stop pretending to be Christians.

Contraception: This is another controversial one. To go with my pro-life stance I do believe another way to prevent abortions is to allow people to prevent pregnancy in the first place. There are legitimate reasons for a married couple to not have children. However, they should not be denied the opportunity for pleasure either because of it. Using contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy is much better than aborting.

Intervention/war: I am largely a non-interventionist. I believe that countries like America(and also my own) should simply mind their own business and stop policing the world. In a similar vein I am also strongly anti-zionist.

I'm personally a very conservative person but not really in a political sense.

I believe in a $15 minimum wage, universal basic income as suggested by Andrew Yang, free healthcare for all, and affordable college tuition.

I'm pro-life, but in the cases of rape and incest and a threat to the life of the mother, I can't imagine ever trying to tell a woman what she should do. These are heartbreaking and tough situations. What I believe and how I would do something in this situation is irrelevant because I'm not the one in that position. I pray the right decisions are made.

I believe in LGBT rights and their right to get married outside of the Church. We don't live in a theocracy. We judge what goes on in the Church, and in the Church there is no gay marriage, but outside of the Church isn't our problem or our place to dictate. His Kingdom is not of this world. God doesn't force himself on us so we shouldn't force ourselves on those outside of the Church.

I also believe people who have serious illnesses or injuries should be able to medically end their lives early to ease the suffering if they wish. It has no place for Christians in the Church, but again for those outside the Church they don't abide by our rules and we can't force them to. If someone has 2 months to live because of some horrible illness causing them extreme pain, they should be able to just go early to stop it all if they want to.

As far as immigration I believe everyone had the right to God's green earth, but it needs to be done in accordance with the laws, but it's to our American shame in particular that we make it almost impossible for too many people.

Racism has no place in society and this isn't even something that should be controversial or negotiable.

Contraception for us is up to clergy, and for those outside the Church they should have free and complete access to it because it isn't our business.

I also believe that we shouldn't police the world. If there's no threat to us, leave countries be. It's their problem if they want to slaughter each other and live in terrible conditions. People who want to escape those places should have much easier access to asylum and citizenship here in the US. This way we help those in need without going into those countries.

What I do have a "hot take" on is Islam and transgenderism. Islam is evil and vile and should never been defended. It needs to be eradicated from the earth. It's a terrorist religion. Trans people are suffering from mental illness and should never be encouraged to mutilate their bodies.

So, you are not completely alone. I share many same views and I'm Orthodox in Church and faith.

MariaJLM · May 8, 2019

The Faceless said:
I'm personally a very conservative person but not really in a political sense.

I believe in a $15 minimum wage, universal basic income as suggested by Andrew Yang, free healthcare for all, and affordable college tuition.

I'm pro-life, but in the cases of rape and incest and a threat to the life of the mother, I can't imagine ever trying to tell a woman what she should do. These are heartbreaking and tough situations. What I believe and how I would do something in this situation is irrelevant because I'm not the one in that position. I pray the right decisions are made.

I believe in LGBT rights and their right to get married outside of the Church. We don't live in a theocracy. We judge what goes on in the Church, and in the Church there is no gay marriage, but outside of the Church isn't our problem or our place to dictate. His Kingdom is not of this world. God doesn't force himself on us so we shouldn't force ourselves on those outside of the Church.

I also believe people who have serious illnesses or injuries should be able to medically end their lives early to ease the suffering if they wish. It has no place for Christians in the Church, but again for those outside the Church they don't abide by our rules and we can't force them to. If someone has 2 months to live because of some horrible illness causing them extreme pain, they should be able to just go early to stop it all if they want to.

As far as immigration I believe everyone had the right to God's green earth, but it needs to be done in accordance with the laws, but it's to our American shame in particular that we make it almost impossible for too many people.

Racism has no place in society and this isn't even something that should be controversial or negotiable.

Contraception for us is up to clergy, and for those outside the Church they should have free and complete access to it because it isn't our business.

I also believe that we shouldn't police the world. If there's no threat to us, leave countries be. It's their problem if they want to slaughter each other and live in terrible conditions. People who want to escape those places should have much easier access to asylum and citizenship here in the US. This way we help those in need without going into those countries.

What I do have a "hot take" on is Islam and transgenderism. Islam is evil and vile and should never been defended. It needs to be eradicated from the earth. It's a terrorist religion. Trans people are suffering from mental illness and should never be encouraged to mutilate their bodies.

So, you are not completely alone. I share many same views and I'm Orthodox in Church and faith.

We seem to be in agreement on most issues. We do differ slightly on the last two, however. While certain sects of Islam are certainly problematic wiping it out would be akin to genocide, thus not much we can do about them unfortunately. We are Christians so have to be setting an example and genocide is certainly something that is unchristian.

As for transgenderism, while it is a mental illness it is one that currently has only one known treatment: transition. I'm optimistic that science will devise better ways to cope with it and perhaps even cure it.

The Faceless · May 8, 2019

MariaJLM said:
We seem to be in agreement on most issues. We do differ slightly on the last two, however. While certain sects of Islam are certainly problematic wiping it out would be akin to genocide, thus not much we can do about them unfortunately. We are Christians so have to be setting an example and genocide is certainly something that is unchristian.

As for transgenderism, while it is a mental illness it is one that currently has only one known treatment: transition. I'm optimistic that science will devise better ways to cope with it and perhaps even cure it.

I'm not saying Muslims should be exterminated and I don't even have nor am I offering a solution. I'm just saying that it's a plague we would be better off without.

I read your other thread and nothing about what you believe prevents you from being Orthodox. You rightly distinguish between the World and the Kingdom. Wanting a better life for everyone and not forcing our beliefs on the general public is a good thing. People who call you a modernist heretic worship their political identity over Christ and choose their agenda over compassion. You only have a serious problem when you want to bring it into the Church and from what I've see, you don't.

MariaJLM · May 8, 2019

The Faceless said:
I'm not saying Muslims should be exterminated and I don't even have nor am I offering a solution. I'm just saying that it's a plague we would be better off without.

I read your other thread and nothing about what you believe prevents you from being Orthodox. You rightly distinguish between the World and the Kingdom. Wanting a better life for everyone and not forcing our beliefs on the general public is a good thing. People who call you a modernist heretic worship their political identity over Christ and choose their agenda over compassion. You only have a serious problem when you want to bring it into the Church and from what I've see, you don't.

I think Islam is here to stay unfortunately. The only way it would go away is if there was mass apostasy, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

~Anastasia~ · May 9, 2019

The secular world was engaged in many moral evils (maybe worse than we face today) at the time of the Apostles. Yet they don't crusade about enforcing morality of those outside the Church. They only focus on bringing the Gospel, and letting GOD change people, and instructing the faithful on how to cooperate with God.

The state of the world is no reason to abandon the Church. (I'm not saying you're doing that. Only pointing out that in some respects, it's not our concern, and it should not divide us. We only need to agree on the basic truths of right and wrong. We should KNOW that not everyone is going to agree or abide by it.)

gurneyhalleck1 · May 10, 2019

Economics: Capitalism. It isn't perfect, but communal living is nonsense. I am just a teacher. I didn't create iPhones or invent Windows and Microsoft. I didn't come up with the idea for Amazon.com or Uber. In my humble opinion, capitalism unleashes the potential of creativity and innovation. Brilliant ideas are rewarded along with hard work. Again, it isn't perfect. If unchecked and unfettered as well as unregulated completely, it favors only the top and "mom and pop" shops are eradicated along with the middle class. That's why capitalism needs checks and balances against it. Since I am merely a teacher, I get a decent wage. I make around $85,000 a year. It's respectable. It's not epic. But then again, guys like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Jeff Bezos, etc. came up with ideas that I never would fathom as possibilities. Great ideas deserve great rewards. And you don't see amazing ideas and massive ideas unleashed in heavily-socialized societies. I look at the United Kingdom or Canada. What innovations are coming out of those places, with respect. Look at all the computers folks in the U.K. utilize---Macs and PC's designed largely in my state---California. Look at the cell phones folks use in Canada----iPhones or androids dreamed up here in the States. Our movie industry, music industry, fashion industry, television industry is the most robust in the world. Innovation is unleashed when it's not completely choked and strangled by regulations, within reason. The problem with socialism, sayeth Margaret Thatcher, is you eventually run out of other people's money. Socialism leads to heavy government control and atheism usually comes close behind. Most socialized countries seem to be the most atheistic and prideful. However, I'm VERY pro-union. Unions, which were not socialist in their foundations, offered a healthy check on capitalism ensuring workers had strong wages, schedules, dignity, and retirement. The decline of unions has hurt the American worker, not helped him/her.

Abortion: aka infanticide. Baby murder. Should be illegal in all cases all the time. Threats to a mother's life are insanely rare. Harvesting fetal tissue is unconscionable and vile. Encouraging and subsidizing a mother to slaughter her own offspring is not only un-Christian, it's unthinkable in a civilized society.

LGBT issues: We have over-sanitized this issue. What these folks do in the privacy of their bedrooms is disgusting, unclean, and just plain nasty. It also happens to be contrary to Scripture, Tradition, the Fathers, the Church, and has, until the past few years, been considered a form of mental illness. The LGBT agenda is beautiful in the minds of modernist liberals because these folks cannot procreate. Liberals want zero population increase. What better way to achieve it. LGBT also goes against the traditional norms of Western Civilization. Modern liberalism is anti-Western Civilization. That's why liberals cozy up to Islam---they share a common disdain for Western heritage. The LGBT community is ripe for propaganda and control of people. They use this wedge issue for lawsuits, persecuting an "intolerant" Church, and discrediting people. It's but one more thing the Far Left can utilize to shame their opponents. It is unnatural, unclean, un-Godly, and unacceptable.

Euthanasia: Nyet. Suicide is never an acceptable solution. Suffering, sadly, is a part of life. It is the destiny of some, others will be spared it. I hope I am. I hope all in this forum are. But we are called to take up our Crosses, pray, hope, and never see despair and annihilation as norms. It goes against the Hippocratic oath and is another innovation of the Far Left that is anti-Western Civilization. What happened to euthanasia and suicide being tragedies? Again, it is a lack of a good classical education that leads to acceptance of these vile things. I look at antiquity in such stories as The Aeneid where Queen Dido kills herself because of the pain of the curse laid upon her while Cassandra copes with her curse by Apollo and struggles, keeping up the good fight. When did despair become chiq?

Immigration: I see no real statistical proof that massive diversity is a strength. In most Western countries, the more diversity, the more violence, intolerance, racism, hatred, and struggles have come to the fore. That being said, I'm not opposed to diversity, just not convinced it's a strength. I see that as a feeling, not a fact. I'm a sovereigntist. My country has the right to heavily regulate, monitor, scrutinize, and inspect anyone seeking to become a resident or citizen. Citizenship in the U.S. is a right, not a privilege. I'm for heavy vetting, not pandering to just the Southern border, I'm fine with voter ID laws, and if we are to have a robust farmworker program, then we need something akin to the Bracero Program with structure, limitations, rights for the immigrant, dignity for the immigrant, clean and dignified conditions, and monitoring. We need to focus more on skilled labor and medical professionals than unskilled labor imho. I see nothing wrong with nationalism as long as it is not fascist. Nationalism does not automatically equate to Hitler and company. That's a cliche. I'd much prefer to nationalism and pride in one's country over the idea of globalism. God forbid. I don't need someone in Belgium, Toronto, Paris, London, or Rio de Janeiro telling my state and my country how much they can ship, grow, export, import, and how much my currency is worth. I don't need foreigners dictating my laws, destiny, or values. I don't need foreign nations dictating to my country how many immigrants to take in from the Middle East or how much to tax our people. Pass.

Racism: Racism sucks. There is no place for it in a civil society. But the word "racism" has become watered-down and a buzz word that is comfy for people to whip out for purposes of discrediting, ruination, and humiliation. Racism seems to be, in 2019, a one-way street. Only white folks can be racists it seems, and never people of color. Some of the most racist people I've observed were non-white in my life in Central California.

Contraception: Government should not pay for people to not have sex. If people want to use contraception, that is their thing. I shouldn't subsidize people getting horizontal.

Intervention/War: The Iraq War was a good example of a farcical use of American power imho. But America must police the world because the world ALWAYS HAS AND ALWAYS WILL need policing. My view on this often angers people, but I maintain that a world with a weak America is akin to a world with a crippled Roman Empire. Human nature is that mankind will always want power and dominance. World War I happened because of a lack of a global policing. World War II occurred because Hitler was left unchecked, totally able to encroach and conquer at will. Take America out of the world and Russia and China will utterly dominate along with Iran in the Middle East. While American intervention can often be for selfish reasons (petro dollar anyone?), it is sometimes the only thing keeping dictators and psychopaths at bay. I'm not a Zionist. I don't see Israel as some rebuilding of the folks we see in the Old Testament. I've been to Israel, so I have at least "some" exposure. Israel is largely a secular atheist country. It's not a religious hub or prophetic piece. For me as a Christian, it is a place to visit ancient, holy places, nothing more. I don't believe our future salvation revolves around Jews.

MariaJLM · May 10, 2019

gurneyhalleck1 said:
Economics: Capitalism. It isn't perfect, but communal living is nonsense. I am just a teacher. I didn't create iPhones or invent Windows and Microsoft. I didn't come up with the idea for Amazon.com or Uber. In my humble opinion, capitalism unleashes the potential of creativity and innovation. Brilliant ideas are rewarded along with hard work. Again, it isn't perfect. If unchecked and unfettered as well as unregulated completely, it favors only the top and "mom and pop" shops are eradicated along with the middle class. That's why capitalism needs checks and balances against it. Since I am merely a teacher, I get a decent wage. I make around $85,000 a year. It's respectable. It's not epic. But then again, guys like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Jeff Bezos, etc. came up with ideas that I never would fathom as possibilities. Great ideas deserve great rewards. And you don't see amazing ideas and massive ideas unleashed in heavily-socialized societies. I look at the United Kingdom or Canada. What innovations are coming out of those places, with respect. Look at all the computers folks in the U.K. utilize---Macs and PC's designed largely in my state---California. Look at the cell phones folks use in Canada----iPhones or androids dreamed up here in the States. Our movie industry, music industry, fashion industry, television industry is the most robust in the world. Innovation is unleashed when it's not completely choked and strangled by regulations, within reason. The problem with socialism, sayeth Margaret Thatcher, is you eventually run out of other people's money. Socialism leads to heavy government control and atheism usually comes close behind. Most socialized countries seem to be the most atheistic and prideful. However, I'm VERY pro-union. Unions, which were not socialist in their foundations, offered a healthy check on capitalism ensuring workers had strong wages, schedules, dignity, and retirement. The decline of unions has hurt the American worker, not helped him/her.

Abortion: aka infanticide. Baby murder. Should be illegal in all cases all the time. Threats to a mother's life are insanely rare. Harvesting fetal tissue is unconscionable and vile. Encouraging and subsidizing a mother to slaughter her own offspring is not only un-Christian, it's unthinkable in a civilized society.

LGBT issues: We have over-sanitized this issue. What these folks do in the privacy of their bedrooms is disgusting, unclean, and just plain nasty. It also happens to be contrary to Scripture, Tradition, the Fathers, the Church, and has, until the past few years, been considered a form of mental illness. The LGBT agenda is beautiful in the minds of modernist liberals because these folks cannot procreate. Liberals want zero population increase. What better way to achieve it. LGBT also goes against the traditional norms of Western Civilization. Modern liberalism is anti-Western Civilization. That's why liberals cozy up to Islam---they share a common disdain for Western heritage. The LGBT community is ripe for propaganda and control of people. They use this wedge issue for lawsuits, persecuting an "intolerant" Church, and discrediting people. It's but one more thing the Far Left can utilize to shame their opponents. It is unnatural, unclean, un-Godly, and unacceptable.

Euthanasia: Nyet. Suicide is never an acceptable solution. Suffering, sadly, is a part of life. It is the destiny of some, others will be spared it. I hope I am. I hope all in this forum are. But we are called to take up our Crosses, pray, hope, and never see despair and annihilation as norms. It goes against the Hippocratic oath and is another innovation of the Far Left that is anti-Western Civilization. What happened to euthanasia and suicide being tragedies? Again, it is a lack of a good classical education that leads to acceptance of these vile things. I look at antiquity in such stories as The Aeneid where Queen Dido kills herself because of the pain of the curse laid upon her while Cassandra copes with her curse by Apollo and struggles, keeping up the good fight. When did despair become chiq?

Immigration: I see no real statistical proof that massive diversity is a strength. In most Western countries, the more diversity, the more violence, intolerance, racism, hatred, and struggles have come to the fore. That being said, I'm not opposed to diversity, just not convinced it's a strength. I see that as a feeling, not a fact. I'm a sovereigntist. My country has the right to heavily regulate, monitor, scrutinize, and inspect anyone seeking to become a resident or citizen. Citizenship in the U.S. is a right, not a privilege. I'm for heavy vetting, not pandering to just the Southern border, I'm fine with voter ID laws, and if we are to have a robust farmworker program, then we need something akin to the Bracero Program with structure, limitations, rights for the immigrant, dignity for the immigrant, clean and dignified conditions, and monitoring. We need to focus more on skilled labor and medical professionals than unskilled labor imho. I see nothing wrong with nationalism as long as it is not fascist. Nationalism does not automatically equate to Hitler and company. That's a cliche. I'd much prefer to nationalism and pride in one's country over the idea of globalism. God forbid. I don't need someone in Belgium, Toronto, Paris, London, or Rio de Janeiro telling my state and my country how much they can ship, grow, export, import, and how much my currency is worth. I don't need foreigners dictating my laws, destiny, or values. I don't need foreign nations dictating to my country how many immigrants to take in from the Middle East or how much to tax our people. Pass.

Racism: Racism sucks. There is no place for it in a civil society. But the word "racism" has become watered-down and a buzz word that is comfy for people to whip out for purposes of discrediting, ruination, and humiliation. Racism seems to be, in 2019, a one-way street. Only white folks can be racists it seems, and never people of color. Some of the most racist people I've observed were non-white in my life in Central California.

Contraception: Government should not pay for people to not have sex. If people want to use contraception, that is their thing. I shouldn't subsidize people getting horizontal.

Intervention/War: The Iraq War was a good example of a farcical use of American power imho. But America must police the world because the world ALWAYS HAS AND ALWAYS WILL need policing. My view on this often angers people, but I maintain that a world with a weak America is akin to a world with a crippled Roman Empire. Human nature is that mankind will always want power and dominance. World War I happened because of a lack of a global policing. World War II occurred because Hitler was left unchecked, totally able to encroach and conquer at will. Take America out of the world and Russia and China will utterly dominate along with Iran in the Middle East. While American intervention can often be for selfish reasons (petro dollar anyone?), it is sometimes the only thing keeping dictators and psychopaths at bay. I'm not a Zionist. I don't see Israel as some rebuilding of the folks we see in the Old Testament. I've been to Israel, so I have at least "some" exposure. Israel is largely a secular atheist country. It's not a religious hub or prophetic piece. For me as a Christian, it is a place to visit ancient, holy places, nothing more. I don't believe our future salvation revolves around Jews.

Unsurprisingly we disagree on pretty much everything and perhaps are even polar opposites politically. However, I do agree that encouraging abortion is wrong. I think by helping expectant parents and simply educating people about the realities of abortion would help prevent it. I don't think banning it alone will solve anything. We have to act and get the message across that it's wrong, otherwise even if it's banned women will continue to seek it illegally. That is especially true here in Canada where it is seen as an essential human right(and anybody who even remotely opposes it is labeled as a religious fundie who just wants to control women).

In short, the best way to save the lives of both mother and child would be by somehow re-educating society. Sure, some may see it as brainwashing, but lives are at stake otherwise.

The Faceless · May 10, 2019

MariaJLM said:
Unsurprisingly we disagree on pretty much everything and perhaps are even polar opposites politically. However, I do agree that encouraging abortion is wrong. I think by helping expectant parents and simply educating people about the realities of abortion would help prevent it. I don't think banning it alone will solve anything. We have to act and get the message across that it's wrong, otherwise even if it's banned women will continue to seek it illegally. That is especially true here in Canada where it is seen as an essential human right(and anybody who even remotely opposes it is labeled as a religious fundie who just wants to control women).

In short, the best way to save the lives of both mother and child would be by somehow re-educating society. Sure, some may see it as brainwashing, but lives are at stake otherwise.

Surefire ways to significantly lower abortion rates is to increase wages rather than keep the poverty wages the rich brainwash people into believing is fair by devaluing the work and therefore the human behind it; provide free healthcare so expectant mothers can get the care they need for themselves and their children throughout their lives; provide free or significantly cheaper college tuition so everyone has the opportunity to achieve their dreams of their field of choice regardless of where they come from or how they were raised; provide free or significantly cheaper daycare so mothers can work and not have to forfeit at least half of their wages.

MariaJLM · May 10, 2019

The Faceless said:
Surefire ways to significantly lower abortion rates is to increase wages rather than keep the poverty wages the rich brainwash people into believing is fair by devaluing the work and therefore the human behind it; provide free healthcare so expectant mothers can get the care they need for themselves and their children throughout their lives; provide free or significantly cheaper college tuition so everyone has the opportunity to achieve their dreams of their field of choice regardless of where they come from or how they were raised; provide free or significantly cheaper daycare so mothers can work and not have to forfeit at least half of their wages.

Yes, but I doubt people like Gurney would be for that :/.

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